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When we introduced Rotary Club Central in 2012, it revolutionized goal tracking and planning for clubs and districts — no more filling out paper club-planning forms or passing along boxes of historical club information every time a new leader took office.
Rotary Club Central offered clubs and districts a quantifiable way to begin measuring local and global impact, specifically membership initiatives, service activities, and Rotary Foundation giving.
But as with any technological advancement, in a few short years, Rotary Club Central began to show its age, and Rotarians took notice. They...

At its January 2017 meeting, the Rotary International Board of Directors adopted a new zone structure for Rotary clubs.
Rotary bylaws require the Board to complete a comprehensive review of the 34 Rotary zones no less often than every eight years to ensure that each zone has an approximately equal number of Rotarians. The Board’s previous review of the zones occurred in 2008.
The Board earlier approved the creation of three regional workgroups to develop rezoning proposals for Asia, Europe/Africa, and the Americas. These workgroups comprised one representative (either a current director,...

Through The Rotary Foundation, Rotary members have supported thousands of projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education, and grow local economies. We’ve also led the fight to eradicate polio worldwide. As part of our celebration of the Foundation’s centennial, we’re honoring 20 global grant projects with special recognition. Learn more about the projects using our interactive map.

The Atlanta Host Organization Committee is offering some good old-fashioned Southern hospitality at the Rotary International Convention from 10 to 14 June. It has planned a wide range of activities featuring everything from good food and music to inspiring tours of local landmarks. If it’s your first convention, these events are chances to meet fellow Rotarians from around the world, and if you’re an experienced convention goer, you can catch up with old friends.
Hall of Fame baseball player Hank Aaron will host Rotarians for a “Strike Out Polio” night at the new SunTrust Park, where you’ll...

When Teguest Yilma helped found the Rotary Club of Addis Ababa Entoto in 2002, she thought polio had already been eradicated from most of the world. But while Ethiopia had been free of the disease, Yilma was shocked to learn that new cases had started cropping up in surrounding countries such as Somalia.
“I was thinking, it’s not possible, we can’t be free if the countries around us are not free,” she says. Yilma, the managing editor of Capital, Ethiopia’s largest English weekly newspaper, has brought a journalist’s skills to the fight against polio. She became vice chair of the Ethiopia...

Club Information

Welcome to Our Club!

Service Above Self

We meet Fridays at 12:15 p.m. sharp! Please arrive no later than 12:00 noon
At: The Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front Street West or

The National Club, 303 Bay St.
(Meeting Room, subject to change weekly

Join us for lunch on Friday, August 11th at the Roof Top Patio of the National Club, located on the 4th floor. Our special guests will be Lubna and Muneer al Zahabi.

Our Syrian family arrived on May 10th and have had three very busy months with their three children, getting organised in their apartment, having doctor and dental appointments, filling out forms for government identification and organising schools and activities for the children.

Muneer’s English is excellent and he is preparing for career opportunities. He has extensive experience in graphic design and major digital print management.

Both are involved in English lessons at Woodgreen Community Centre. It has been a long journey, having fled Syria in October 2012 and spending 4 ½ years as refugees in Amman, Jordan.

Michael Cochrane is a Toronto-based lawyer and author. He has published several bestselling books about law and was the host of a nationally televised live show called “Strictly Legal” for many years.

Golf and golf history have become his passions. He has spent hundreds of hours researching the incredible story of Canadian golfing great George Seymour Lyon, winner of the 1904 Olympic Gold medal for golf. Amazed that Lyon’s story was being lost in the mists of time rather than being celebrated, he has made telling Lyon’s story his mission, and published his book, Olympic Lyon: The Untold Story of the Last Gold Medal for Golf, just as golf was making its triumphant return to the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Michael is also an avid golfer who has four holes in one to his credit, including an albatross.

Michael is currently the head of the family and estates group at the law firm, Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP.

July 1st brings a new theme for the 2017-18 RI year …”Rotary: Making a Difference”.

The Rotary Club of Toronto has been making a difference in the lives of Torontonians and others around the world for over 100 years, and we will continue to do so! This year we will observe our 105th year of transforming lives and making a difference to the many disadvantaged and challenged people in our local community. Our club has been and will continue to be rich in tradition and expertise to make a difference to people’s lives for many more years. Our forefathers saw the potential to build this great club; we must continue to enrich the club with our vision of the future and what it holds. We have much to be proud of, and, much to look forward to.

A successful year of ‘Rotary Serving Humanity’ is now coming to a close. We should recognize the progress we have made and to consider the road ahead. To make the most impact to the clients and communities we serve, we require the imagination and creativity of all members, as well as their boundless energy and passion.alizing for us.

Roberta Jamieson is a Mohawk woman who has enjoyed a distinguished career of firsts. She was the first First Nation woman in Canada to earn a law degree; the first non-parliamentarian appointed an ex-officio member of a House of Commons Committee; the first woman Ombudsman of Ontario; and the first woman elected Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, where she continues to reside with her family. An accomplished expert in alternative dispute resolution, Roberta also served as Commissioner of the Indian Commission of Ontario.

Child rights advocate, Jane Kovarikova, grew up in foster care since the age of six and began living on her own at age 16. Understanding the unique circumstances and challenges faced by youth-in-care inspired an ongoing academic and professional commitment to bettering youth outcomes. In 2009, she graduated with MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics.

Karina is a Grade 12 student in the Extended-French and Advanced Placement programs at Bishop Allen Academy, who has taken on many leadership roles within the school and the community she lives in. She is a school trustee and a French Relations Officer on the executive council of the Ontario Student Trustees Association. Amongst all the projects she has led or worked on,one of the most fulfilling one has been running workshops on mental wellness & habits of effective teens in the First Nations reserve in Geraldton, Northern Ontario. Karina also volunteers for the Children’s Aid Foundation and the Parkinsons Society of Central & Northern Ontario. Karina will be studying Medicine at Harvard University.

Rotaract Gold Youth Civic Leadership Award

Samantha is a Grade 12 student from Martingrove Collegiate Institute and is an elected Youth Councillor for Ward 3 where she has chaired the Finance/Economic Infrastructure Committee. She is also a member of the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities advising the Minister of Youth Services, Minister of Finance and the Premier on provincial youth programs. Amidst keeping very good academic grades at school, Samantha still finds time to be a Lieutenant Governor for the Key Club, club president for the Martingrove World Action Council & volunteering as a camp counsellor for the Martingrove Leadership Camp. Samantha will be studying Political Science at McGill University.

Rotaract Silver Youth Civic Leadership Award

Sarah is a Grade 12 student from Ursula Franklin Academy. Sarah’s extracurricular activities involves being President of the Student Council, fundraising for the Franklin Athletic Association, Peer Mediation, leading Inside Ride (supporting children with cancer & their families), helping Syrian Refugees & being a communications lead for the Social Justice Committee at Bloor Street United, organizing panel discussions at school to help students understand the workplace. Sarah has also been involved in International Service through Youth on Bloor – she has been on a trip to El Salvador where she has built chicken coops, planted trees and helped build a well. With the Salvadorian youth, she is also engaged in the peace process. She has also been a camp counsellor for her school. Sarah is looking forward to attend the University of Western Ontario’s Social Sciences & Business Management program.

Toronto Community Housing Youth Civic Leadership Award

Hilary is a Grade 12 student from the John Polanyi Collegiate Institute and is involved in the CITY – Change Impacting Toronto’s Youth – a social entrepreneurship group. She led the CITY’s website development and participated in the SAGE International Entrepreneurship competition and represented Canada in South Korea. Hilary is also a Youth Ambassador for the Regent Park Revitalization program looking at problems facing youth in Regent park and what solutions to bring forward to help these young people with regards to education, training & employment in Regent Park. She also created a Mental Health committee at her school to promote positive thinking aimed at eliminating stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. Hilary also volunteers at Bridgepoint Hospital.

The Rotary Club of Toronto – Youth & Children Committee Youth Civic Leadership Special Award

Christine is a returning Grade 12 student at Westview Centennial Secondary School. Through her life experiences and passion, Christine wants to ultimately become a Human Rights Lawyer. She will be starting her undergrad in Political Science & Global Development at Quuen’s University this year. For many years, she has been a volunteer at the Buddhist Temple and helped raise funds and has been a role model & mentor for the Youth & Peers at the temple. She even got a recognitions award from the Mayor for her volunteer work. Christine is a mentor at the Generation Change organization and LAWS program in the Jane/Finch community where she lives. She helps the youth in the community to develop, appreciate cultural diversity, ethnicity & inclusiveness through events. She is also a Student Council representative and has taken leadership roles in raising money & toys for children at Humber River Regional Hospital & women’s shelters.

Michael Burns is CEO of 2017 Invictus Games, the largest international competition in the world featuring ill and injured soldiers from 17 nations that will be coming to Toronto in September, 2017.

Michael brings to Invictus more than 20-years of an extensive experience in marketing, financial services, technology and entrepreneurial start-up.

Michael is co-founder of the True Patriot Love Foundation, which supports Canada’s military, veterans and their families. In June 2016, Canada’s Governor-General, on behalf of the Queen, awarded Burns The Meritorious Service Cross for this work with military families.

Paul Alofs is an unusually successful guy. He has been successful in many different industries and geographies.

So, who is Paul? Paul has worked in marketing services and was named to the inaugural Marketing Hall of Legends. Paul was president of HMV Music stores and was named Innovative Retailer of the Year by the Retail Council, and a member of the Top 40 Under 40 after building sales from $30 million to $200 million in short order. Paul was president of BMG Music and was named Music Industry Executive of the Year for his success in building that record company. He then became general manager of the 500 North American Disney stores and delivered record profits and customer service. After Disney, Paul was president of strategic business units at MP3.com in San Diego and helped launch one of the most successful internet IPOs of the internet age.

Michele grew up and was educated in Toronto, and has practiced law in Toronto for 28 years at a well-established downtown Toronto law firm, Coutts Crane, founded 66 years ago. Her practice consists of Corporate and Commercial, Wills and Estates and Real Estate law.

After joining The Rotary Club in 1990, Michele was elected and served as the first female President of the Rotary Club of Toronto in its 100 year history. She continues to dedicate much of her time to the charitable works of The Rotary Club of Toronto to this day, including presently being the Co-chair of the 2018 Rotary International Convention to be held in Toronto.

Michele has served on many Boards, including advisory boards for corporations, as well as Charitable Foundations.

Hugh Segal, the fifth Master of Massey College, has served in the public sector as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Associate Cabinet Secretary in Ontario during William Davis’ premiership and served in the Senate of Canada for ten years from 2004 to 2014. In the Senate he chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee and Special Committee on Anti-Terrorism.

David Miller is President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund – Canada, Canada’s foremost conservation organization. The WWF creates solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive.

The Hon. Bob Rae is a senior partner of Olthius, Kleer, Townsend LLP where he works with First Nations across Canada as legal counsel, advisor and negotiator. He served as Ontario’s 21st Premier from 1990 to 1995 and Interim Federal Leader of the Liberal Party in 2011-2013 during which time he played a significant role in the rebuilding of the federal party and its return to power in October 2015. He was named Queen’s Counsel in 1984, appointed to the Privy Counsel of Canada in 1998, named as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000, received the Order of Ontario in 2004 and Companion of the Order of Canada in 2015.

Ted Barris is an award-winning journalist, author, and broadcaster. For more than 40 years, his writing has regularly appeared in the national press – Globe and Mail, National Post, as well as magazines as diverse as Legion, Air Force and Zoomer. He has also worked as host/contributor for most CBC Radio network programs and on TV Ontario. He is a full-time professor of journalism at Toronto’s Centennial College.

Mark Saunders was appointed the 10th Chief of the Toronto Police Service on May 20, 2015. The City of Toronto is a vibrant diverse city covering 636 square kilometres with a diverse population of more than 2,600,000 people. The Toronto Police Service employs over 5300 police officers and 2700 civilian employees and has an annual budget nearing $1 billion dollars. It is the largest municipal police service in Canada and 5th largest in North America.

Hazelle is a seasoned senior executive with more than 20 years experience in the non-profit sector. Before joining Sherbourne she was Executive Director of the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and previously Executive Director of Planned Parenthood of Toronto. Hazelle holds a Master’s Certificate in Health Care Management as well as a Bachelor in Communications from Carleton University. She is former Managing Editor of Health Sharing Magazine, and worked as a Television producer for WTN and Upfront Entertainment. She has also held Board positions with various non-profit organizations, including Women's College Hospital.

Mitty Chang is the Creative Director and Founder of Candeavor, a digital marketing and design agency based in the San Francisco bay area. As a millennial, Mitty grew up during the internet high tech boom during the turn of the century. His entrepreneurial spirit started young. Mitty built his first website while in the fourth grade, and began his first business as a freelance web designer while in the seventh grade. Over 15 years later, Mitty continues designing and developing websites professionally, while giving back to his community through Rotary.

Both sides of Kenn Richard's family come from the original Métis and Francophone settlements along the Red and the Assiniboine River in Manitoba. He is of the first generation in his family to be raised in an urban environment and graduate from university. He holds a Masters in Social Work, University of Manitoba, and has been practicing social work, principally within Aboriginal child welfare, since the mid-seventies. Kenn is founder and Executive Director of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, a mandated Children`s Aid Society and Children's Mental Health Center, since 1989.

Mr Trouyet has served as the Consul General of France in Toronto since August of 2015. His territorial jurisdiction comprises Ontario and Manitoba.

Mr. Trouyet has been a diplomat for almost fifteen years. Most recently he served in Paris as head of the department of French Overseas Development Assistance pertaining to governance issues. In this capacity, he supervised projects and expert missions on issues such as: postcrisis recovery and the rule of law; government reforms and urban governance; public finances; migration, Diasporas and development.

This presentation is offered as an insight into the journey of a young black woman adopted into the white community of Peterborough, Ontario. Liberty was faced with a barrage of racial recriminations. Many thousands of children have faced these challenges.

Liberty triumphed and found her resolve and true freedom through her adopted father’s jazz music collection. How does a child rise when oppressed within the community?

Steve Paikin is one of Canada’s leading journalist and political commentators.

Born in Hamilton with his Bachelors of Arts from the University of Toronto and Masters in broadcast journalism from Boston University, Steve shot to public attention as anchor and Queen’s Park correspondent for CBLT and host of a daily news and current affairs program on CBC Newsworld.

Raised in Hong Kong and educated in England, Gloria managed Danish government soft loan and World Bank development projects in China covering twelve provinces and two autonomous regions in the 1980s. She successfully spearheaded many agricultural pilot projects including the setting up of the first mechanized state farm in China and technology transfer between John Deere and China.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

On Monday January 16th, it is Martin Luther King Day. At our lunch on Fri 13th, we will recognize and honour Martin Luther King by asking the question after 54 years, “Has any of his dream been fulfilled in Canada?”.

2017 is Canada’s Sesquicentennial. In this significant year in the country’s life, the ‘Program Committee’ is inviting, throughout the year, a number of speakers who will address the club to inform us on matters relating to some of Canada’s significant contributions to the world.

Following this theme, the first meeting of the year, normally dedicated to a time of inspiration, will inform the members of the work of ‘L’Arche’, an international organization founded by John Vanier, the son of a former Governor of Canada, Georges Vanier.

It is said that the most precious gift you can give is Time. When you give of your time, you give a little of yourself and a part of your life to someone else. Time in the service of others is what defines all Rotarians. This is especially true during the Christmas season when so many of our members are involved in putting on two of our largest events of the year.

For many months leading up to Christmas, our members spend an enormous amount of time planning and preparing two spectacular celebrations to make many people very happy. The first celebration is our annual Seniors Christmas Lunch held on December 9th and the second is our very special party for children with special needs held on Sunday December 11th, which is perhaps the longest running children’s Christmas Party in the City of Toronto. Both celebrations require planning on a grand scale, which several members do with great enthusiasm and passion. You will find more details and great pictures of both celebrations featured in this week’s Voice.

Patricia Keeney is an award-winning poet, novelist, theatre and literary critic. The author of ten books of poetry and two novels and a well-known arts writer for many years for CBC Radio, Canadian Forum, Scene Changes, Canadian Theatre Review and Canadian Literature, Keeney continues her critical work both nationally and internationally in journals such as Arc and online: Critical Stages and Critically Speaking. Keeney teaches English and Creative Writing at York University. An avid traveller she has also taught and lectured in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Mrs. Bruder is Executive Vice-President of Operations, Royal Bank of Canada and is also a member of the Group Operating Committee charged with oversight of day-to-day management of RBC globally. Previous roles with RBC include EVP of Business and Commercial Banking, COO of the Global Wealth Management division and President of RBC Centura Bank in North Carolina.

Katie Daubs is part of the features team at the Toronto Star. In 2014, she and photographer Richard Lautens spent two months walking across Belgium and France, following the footsteps of Canadian soldiers of the First World War and filing daily stories for their series Walking the Western Front. Daubs is currently on leave from the Star, as a Southam Journalism fellow at Massey College.

Richard Lautens, Staff Photographer The Toronto Star

Richard Lautens has been a photographer at the Toronto Star since 1987. In that time he has covered news and events all over the world including politics, fashion, sports, civil strife and features. He has won local and international awards for his work.

Ian Wood is an outstanding Canadian who, within the ‘Department of External Affairs’, has served his country well. His work included many international appointments with a number of years as Canada’s ambassador to several countries in the Middle East.

Dr. Truong Ta, is the Head of Immunization Policy, Canada for Sanofi Pasteur Limited. In this role, Dr. Ta oversees public affairs, government affairs and market access activities for vaccines in Canada. Sanofi Pasteur researches, develops and manufactures vaccines for Canada and global markets.

Dr. Ta obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Alberta in 2000 and his research involved studying protein adsorption at biomaterial interfaces. Subsequently, he completed a 1-year postdoctoral fellowship in the area of Mass Spectrometry, and several years later, obtained a Master of Business Administration from York University’s Schulich School of Business with a focus on business strategy and healthcare industry management.

The Right Honourable Paul Martin was Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006 and Minister of Finance from 1993 to 2002.

During his tenure as Minister of Finance, he erased Canada’s deficit, subsequently recording five consecutive budget surpluses while paying down the national debt and setting Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio on a steady downward track. He was the inaugural chair of the Finance Ministers’ G-20 in 1999.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Martin set in place a ten year, forty-one billion dollar plan to improve health care and reduce wait times; signed agreements with the provinces and territories to establish the first national early learning and child care program and created a new financial deal for Canada’s municipalities. Under his leadership the Canadian Government reached an historic deal with Aboriginal people of Canada to eliminate the existing funding gaps in health, education and housing known as the Kelowna Accord.

John is a graduate of the University of Guelph, holding a Masters in Agricultural Science (Agricultural Economics)

His career focused on agricultural education, sales, marketing and management. In 1985 he moved to Chatham to be Vice President and General Manager for Dekalb Canada. He joined the staff of St. Clair College in 1998 where he was Director; Innovation, Community and Corporate Training until his retirement in 2010.

Derek is Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist for TD Bank Group. In his role, he leads a team of economists that provides leading analysis on the U.S.,Canadian and global economies and financial markets.

Each year, he travels extensively across Canada, speaking at more than 75 events on economic and financial developments. As a respected commentator, Derek has been quoted by many media outlets – including the London Financial Times and the Economist. He also is frequently interviewed on the radio and television.

My name is Amna Majeed and I am entering my first year in the Life Sciences Program at the University of Toronto – St. George Campus. I hope to major in Human Biology and Psychology, while completing a minor in French. To me, one of the most important traits is to be well-rounded and to expand one’s perspectives. For this reason, I chose a variety of courses this year including Chemistry, Physics, and the Trinity One Program. I enjoy being an active part of the community, and throughout my four years at UofT, I hope to be a part of many volunteer and leadership initiatives, while partaking in sports and the dramatic arts. In the future, I wish to be a specialty surgeon, and all of these experiences will definitely help me to grow as a person. University is going to be an exciting adventure, and I want to make the most of it – by exploring my interests, making new friends, and trying to be the best version of myself.

Guest Speaker: Andrea Tirone Biography

In 2004, Andrea Tirone was asked to participate in the District 7070 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), through which she found out about Rotaract. Since becoming a member of the University of Toronto Rotaract Club 12 years ago, Andrea has served as President, District Rotaract Representative, Rotaract Representative to the RI Committee on Interact and Rotaract, and as Co-Chair of the International Rotaract Conference - Interota.

Andris Pone believes that every person has the right to experience the thrill of sharing their unique gifts with others. As a world-class wordsmith, he has 13 years of experience helping corporations and individuals express precisely what those differentiating factors are — by building compelling brand foundations and names for clients at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Sun Life Financial, BMO Nesbitt Burns, RBC Wealth Management, Canadian Tire, Purolator, Revera and many others.

Andris is co-author of the #1 Globe and Mail bestselling Brand: It Ain’t the Logo. He appears as a branding expert on CBC’s The National, CBC Radio One, the National Post and the Globe and Mail. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax and also holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.

July 1st marks a new year for Rotary and this year’s theme is Rotary Serving Humanity: three words that perfectly describe what we all do best — transforming lives in our local communities and around the world.

The Rotary Club of Toronto has been changing lives in the city of Toronto for over 104 years. This Club has a rich tradition of responding to and serving the needs of those less fortunate. Members are dedicated to assisting those most vulnerable in the Toronto community by providing funding and expertise to programs which enhance the quality of life and human dignity of our fellow citizens.

As members of a large Rotary Club, we should be proud of our history which dates back to 1912. It was the vision and passion of past members who have built this great Club and developed ground-breaking, innovative solutions to many challenges in the city including United Appeal (later becoming United Way), Care Canada, Youth Employment Service (YES), the Transition Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, the Infirmary at Seaton House, and the Health Centre Health Bus. Many of the events that we celebrate today including the annual Christmas Party for Seniors and for Children, have been organized for decades and continue to delight those who attend each year. These notable service projects and events signify the importance of our work and why it is still so urgently needed.

Bill Empey was born in Montreal and studied Economics at Concordia University. Travelling to Boston in the early 1970s Bill completed a Ph.D. in Economics at Boston College and joined Data Resources Inc. (DRI, now IHS Economics & Country Risk) in 1975. Bill moved to Toronto with DRI in 1977 to head up the Canadian Economic Forecasting Service and was promoted to Vice President and General Manager in Canada in 1980.

In his role as the President & CEO of the Toronto Foundation, Rahul has been working to engage philanthropy to improve the quality of life in Toronto. Formerly a corporate lawyer with a leading Canadian law firm, he was also Vice President of the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid.

Brenda Simon is a graduate of the law and environmental studies program at York University and later studied education at the University of Toronto. She has worked as a human rights lawyer, a co-op housing developer and in community education.

Rainbow Railroad is a volunteer based registered charitable organization. In September 2014, we welcomed our first employee and Executive Director, Justin Taylor. Justin joins Rainbow Railroad as an experienced operations manager and capacity builder.

March 8 is International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women's Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900’s.

Segun Akinsanya is a passionate, articulate and determined young man—a natural leader. But after moving from Quebec to Toronto, he found himself following the wrong crowd. At 18 he was sentenced to a five year prison term for Manslaughter. Incarceration taught him important life lessons and he decided to change his life.

Bill Bishop is the CEO of Bishop Communications Inc. and the creator of The BIG Idea Adventure™, an advanced coaching program that helps entrepreneurs grow their business by creating, packaging, and promoting BIG Ideas. He is also the founder of two social networks—The 10% Referral Club™ and The Keynote Collective™, and the inventor of the popular board game Quibberish®: The Paraphrase Puzzle Game.

Ian Riseley is a chartered accountant and principal of Ian Riseley and Co., a firm he established in 1976. Prior to starting his own firm, he worked in the audit and management consulting divisions of large accounting firms and corporations.

Mark McLean considers himself a veteran of Toronto real estate. When he was 16, his grandfather left for Florida and put him in charge of a small rental property in the Annex. He collected and deposited the rents, kept the books, shoveled the snow and salted the walks. A year later he sold his first house.

Dr. Cuttler graduated from the University of Toronto (Engineering Physics, Nuclear) in 1964. He received his M.Sc. and D.Sc. degrees from the Israel Institute of Technology in 1967 and 1971 while employed by IAEC as a research engineer and by the IIT as a laboratory manager. He was the Technical Manager of Seforad Applied Radiation from 1971 to 74, and then began a 26-year career at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.

He led the team that designed and procured the nuclear instrumentation for three CANDU 6 reactors and for Pickering B and Bruce B stations. Jerry was later AECL's engineering manager for Bruce B, resident engineering manager in Romania, engineering manager of the SLOWPOKE district heating reactor, manager of AECL services at Pickering, CANDU 9 engineering integration manager, and a technical services manager.

While I was enjoying a year-end, and for Rotary a mid-year break, here in Daytona Beach, I was asked if I wanted to send on a New Year’s message through “The Voice”, to outline what we would like to accomplish in the last half of my Rotary Year. Sure, why not, after all it is raining today following a week of unusually hot and sunny weather. First, a reflection on the first 6 months of my Rotary Year. We managed to balance the Club budget after it ran a deficit last year. Our numerous committees accomplished many notable activities and accomplishments. Thank you to all committee chairpersons and their active committee members as well as the Liaison Director Board members for their time and guidance. Some of the highlights included:

Canon Allan Budzin was born in South Bend, Indiana. After elementary school, he began studies for the Roman Catholic priesthood at Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton, MA. He graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI with a degree in philosophy. After teaching high school in Los Angeles, he was ordained a priest in 1980 at Niagara Falls, Ontario. His first parochial assignment took place at St. Gertrude’s Church in Stockton, CA. He came to Toronto in 1983 for graduate studies at the Toronto School of Theology. During that time he also assisted at several Catholic parishes in the west end of Toronto. After leaving the Catholic priesthood, Al married and taught at George Brown College for several years. In 1997 he became an Anglican priest and returned to full-time parochial ministry. He is currently parish priest at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Etobicoke. His interests include poetry, jazz, and thoroughbred horse racing.

The festive season has arrived and today we celebrate with The Rotary Club of Toronto’s 2015 Annual Christmas Party. I hope you all enjoy the wonderful buffet and the music at the luncheon today. We also celebrate the ability to help others at this time of year and we will feature a raffle and a silent auction to that end. Every year, The Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation has a ‘charity of choice’ at our Christmas Party, this year the Foundation will give $5,000 to benefit our Syrian Refugee Family. The family is being sponsored in partnership with the Rosedale United Church and The Rotary Club of Toronto’s Sponsorship Group.

Ian McBride has been the Executive Director of AURA, the Anglican United Refugee Alliance for over 15 years. Born in Coburg, Ontario, Ian is one of those people who has seen it all…Who would have thought that one of Toronto’s busiest refugee advocates and facilitators used to be a corporate manager?

For a long time Ian was a sales and marketing executive, working in the world of international trade. His long business career was replaced by Ministry Service with a focus on the elderly, children and youth.

He has served the Church in many capacities, including as an assistant Chaplin. For a number of years he served on the Board of Directors of AURA, before becoming the Executive Director.

While Ian never went to University, he is by far an expert in his field. He now dedicates almost all of his time to facilitating the private sponsorship of refugees and supporting their resettlement in Toronto. While many are eager to learn and have recently become interested in refugee issues in the face of the current crisis, this has been Ian’s day to day work for a long time.

He is based in Toronto but travels throughout southern Ontario to meet, inform and support the Constituent Groups that AURA represents. He is a dedicated advocate for refugees, and has made this his life work.

Perry Bellegarde was named Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief on December 10, 2014. He has spent his entire adult life putting into practice his strong beliefs in the laws and traditions instilled in him by the many Chiefs and Elders he has known over the years. Passionate about making measureable progress on the issues that matter most to First Nations people, National Chief Bellegarde is a strong advocate for the implementation of Inherent Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. Widely known as a consensus builder with a track record of accomplishment, he brings community people, leaders, Chiefs and Elders together to focus on working cooperatively to move issues forward.

National Chief Bellegarde is from the Little Black Bear First Nation, Treaty 4 Territory. He served as Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and Saskatchewan Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations. He has also served as the Tribal Chair of the Touchwood-File Hills-Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Councillor for the Little Black Bear First Nation and Chief of Little Black Bear First Nation.

The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell is an energetic and highly regarded renaissance woman, an accomplished civil servant with wide-ranging interests, and is passionately devoted to the advancement of humanity. An intelligent, perceptive, and compassionate woman, Ms. Dowdeswell has devoted herself to public service, where her talents and skills have contributed greatly to many important initiatives, most notably those that integrate environmental, economic, social, educational, and cultural concerns.

She cares deeply about the environment, which she considers the fundamental basis for life on earth. She has led provincial, federal, and international institutions, and has served on the boards of corporate and non-profit organizations. Her years as an Under-Secretary-General at the United Nations profoundly shaped her worldview and continue to inform her thinking as she undertakes her role as 29th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Her overarching and ambitious vision is Ontario in the world. She wants to listen to Ontarians and engage them in meaningful dialogue about what they can contribute and learn from others in meeting the common challenges of our interconnected world. Her Honour’s aim is to bring multiple perspectives to the table, encourage innovation, and cultivate new ideas, sparking action and commitment to seeing these ideas move forward.

Ms. Dowdeswell is an Officer of the Order of Canada and holds 11 honorary degrees.

Antoni Cimolino, 2015: Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival. Director of Hamlet and The Alchemist. 28th season. Stratford: Directing credits include King Lear; The Beaux’ Stratagem; Mary Stuart; The Merchant of Venice; Cymbeline; The Grapes of Wrath; Bartholomew Fair; Coriolanus, with Colm Feore and Martha Henry; As You Like It, featuring original music by Barenaked Ladies; King John; Love’s Labour’s Lost, with Brian Bedford; Twelfth Night, with William Hutt; The Night of the Iguana; and Filumena, with Richard Monette.

Among his other accomplishments, Mr. Cimolino was instrumental in establishing the Festival’s Endowment Foundation, which has raised more than $75 million to date, as well as in the renovation of its Avon Theatre and the creation of its Studio Theatre. Elsewhere: The Canadian première of ENRON (Theatre Calgary); Twelfth Night (Attic Theatre, Detroit); A Woman of No Importance (Hilberry Theater, Detroit).

A champion of the arts and culture, Mr. Cimolino served as the Founding Chair of Culture Days, a nation-wide celebration of arts and culture in Canada. He has initiated collaborations with several prestigious theatre companies, including Montreal’s Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, New York’s Lincoln Center and City Center, San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

He also spearheaded the Festival’s involvement in a joint project with CUSO International, Canada’s international volunteer co-operation agency, to establish a performing arts and educational centre in the city of Suchitoto, El Salvador.

Born in Belleville and a resident of Toronto, John Plumpton is an educator, historian, writer and well respected lecturer. For many years he was a teacher and then assumed a leadership role as Superintendent of Schools in Toronto. After his retirement from the Board of Education John led and conducted summer programs in Oxford England for high schools and universities for twelve years.

Andrea Cohen Barrack is the CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canada’s largest granting foundation. Prior to OTF, Andrea was the CEO of Unison Health and Community Services. She is recognized as a transformative leader for her expertise in making organizations more effective.

Topic: The 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta and What It Means to Us.

The Year 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, the Great Charter imposed on King John by his barons in the 13th century. Magna Carta has been one of history’s most significant documents upholding human rights including the American Declaration of Independence, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For Canadians it has influenced key documents from the Royal Proclamation of 1763 that shaped the then British colonies and their relations with First Nations to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Topic: Infectious Diseases That Are Transferred from Animals to Human Beings

Shannon Meadows is currently an Epidemiology consultant at Novometrix Research Incorporated, and examines a wide variety of topics in animal and human health, as well as network engagement and big data.

In 2014, Shannon completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the Population Medicine Department of the University of Guelph. Her PhD thesis project consisted of determining the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever) exposure in sheep flocks, goat herds and their farm workers and veterinarians in Ontario, as well as identifying the risk factors associated with exposure.

Michael Wilson is the Chairman of Barclays Capital Canada Inc. building on 37 years experience in the investment business.

Previously, Mr. Wilson was Canada’s 22nd Ambassador to the United States of America from March 13, 2006 to October 9, 2009. Prior to taking up this position, Mr. Wilson was Chairman of UBS Canada, an operating division of UBS AG.

On July 1st, 2015 The Rotary Club of Toronto embarked on its 103rd year of community service. Through the efforts of our members, the Club is dedicated to improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in the Toronto Community. We also seek to help people in difficult living conditions in foreign lands through our International Service Committee. This continues to be accomplished with fervor and fellowship by our dedicated members. We encourage our Philanthropic Committees to seek out new needs in our community that should be addressed by our Club. This is our tradition.

The Honorable John Godfrey, Special Advisor on climate change, and Chair of the Climate Action Group

John Godfrey has had an extensive and accomplished career dedicated to public service that spans over 30 years. He was first elected to the federal House of Commons as the member of parliament for Don Valley West in 1993. He was re-elected four times, holding the position until 2008.

Ian Urquhart is a well-known and respected journalist whose insider views of the political world have been widely read for more than thirty years. Ian graduated from McGill in 1970 and is a former City

By the time Michael Prosserman aka “Bboy Piecez” was three, he was already standing on his head while watching Saturday morning cartoons. By high school, Michael was accepted into Cirque Du Soleil, featured in the major motion picture “Honey”, and travelled the world as one of Canada’s top break-dancers winning over 22 International competitions. Michael has overcome a chronic neck condition while juggling taking care of his mother with a serious mental illness. Michael took his anger and turned it into art.

Joanne M. Jasper B. ScN. M.A. grew up in rural Bruce County at a time when where you went to school and what church you attended was firmly attached to your name. After completing high school, Joanne attended the University of Toronto, School of Nursing. Following graduation, she has worked in hospital acute care settings and in community health in staff nurse capacities in urban and rural parts of Ontario. Since the mid-80’s, she has worked in management positions for private and non-profit community agencies both across Ontario and in several provinces in western Canada. Joanne completed her Master’s degree in California at the University of San Diego in the early 90’s.

Michael believes that, as Ghandi said, “You have to be the change that you want to see in the world”.

His involvement in Rotary allows him to do this. Michael was born and raised in the west end of Toronto attending Royal York Collegiate, York University and Humber College. He spent the majority of his business career running the family fur business before selling it and retiring in 2008.

Allen worked as a junior high school teacher in the city where he was born and raised, Edmonton. He quit teaching early on, however to attend the Vancouver Playhouse Acting School and worked for a number of years as an actor. After several fortunate opportunities, his primary focus became directing.

It’s difficult to believe that it has been one year since I had the privilege of taking the oath of office as President of the Rotary Club of Toronto. And what a year it has been! I noted in my inaugural address that I believed it is the job of the President to work along with a talented group of people to make the Rotary Club of Toronto even stronger by year end. Thanks to the Board of Directors, the committees and all our members, I believe that we have achieved that goal.

Kevin McGurgan took up his appointment as HM Consul General and Director-General for UK Trade and Investment in Toronto in August 2014.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1971, Kevin joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1990. He comes to Canada after four years as Consul-General in Florida, based in Miami. During that period he was responsible for business development between the UK and Florida and oversaw the expansion of the Consulate’s staff and role across Florida and the Caribbean.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF TORONTO AND TORONTO ARGONAUTS COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP

PULLING TOGETHER FOR SERVICE ABOVE SELF

The Rotary Club of Toronto and Toronto Argonauts Community Scholarship recipient exemplifies the traits of perseverance and determination in their daily life and amongst their school and community. The scholarship will recognize a student who shows a commitment to academics, has a financial need, and strives to improve their community through volunteering and dedication. The scholarship will pay for a full school tuition for post secondary education. The Rotary Club of Toronto Community Champion Scholarship is funded by the Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation.

Stephen Cornish is the executive director of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Canada. With over ten years of direct field experience, Cornish has managed major MSF humanitarian interventions in Chechnya, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Peru and elsewhere. Cornish holds a Masters degree in global risk and crisis management from the Université Panthéon Sorbonne in Paris and post-graduate diploma in conflict resolution from the University of Bradford. He has successfully negotiated humanitarian access to vulnerable populations in active conflict settings across the globe and played key roles in resolving aid worker abduction crises and other emergency scenarios.

Kelly D. Murumets assumed the role of President and CEO of Tennis Canada in March 2014. She joined Tennis Canada after serving as President and CEO of ParticipACTION, the national voice of physical activity and sport participation in Canada since 2007.

Prior to her role with ParticipACTION, Ms. Murumets was president of a publicly traded U.S. telecommunications company, where she oversaw the integration of four bankrupt/nearly bankrupt companies into one thriving organization that ranked 7th in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Program.

She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and has advised leaders from Canada, the United States, South America and Europe on how to develop focused strategies and realize results within their organizations.

For over 25 years, Neil has been the creative leader behind many of Canada’s most famous, enduring and successful brand campaigns. His creative contributions have run the gamut from contributing to the legend of The Caramilk Secret, to launching multi-billion dollar upstarts like Wind Mobile, to charitable campaigns that have led to record giving and, most recently, the widely acclaimed We All Play for Canada campaign for Canadian Tire.

As different as the clients behind the campaigns appear, the secret behind Neil’s success is always the same: humanity and a soft storytelling touch which has seen Neil’s creative leadership awarded Agency of the Year honours five times for business building results.

Neil is looking forward to sharing with the Rotary audience his insights into the art of storytelling. And more specifically, the magic he has witnessed when the companies he works with stop telling people what they do and start inspiring them with why they do it.

Hugh Segal, the 5th Master of Massey College, University of Toronto has served in the public sector as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Chief of Staff and Associate Cabinet Secretary in Ontario to the Hon William Davis and a member of the Senate of Canada. In the Senate he chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Special Committee on Anti-Terrorism.

A lawyer by training, Mark Sakamoto has enjoyed a rich and varied career. He began his professional career in live music, working with several international acts. He has worked at a national law firm (Heenan Blaikie LLP), a national broadcaster (CBC) and has served as a senior political advisor to a national party leader (Michael Ignatieff).

Dr. Paul Garfinkel is currently Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Staff Psychiatrist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

He obtained his medical degree from the University of Manitoba in 1969, and following an internship at the Toronto Western Hospital, did a psychiatric residency at the University of Toronto. He then studied in the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto and later joined the staff of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry.

i.e. To Reduce by 50% the World Population Without Potable Water and Adequate Sanitation.

How Can This Be Achieved?

Location: At the National Club

Ron Denham received his education in England where he obtained a B.Sc. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.

After obtaining an MBA in Business Administration, he entered the management consulting profession, eventually becoming Senior Partner and Vice Chairman of KPMG Management Consulting, Canada’s largest management consulting firm. In this capacity he played a major role in development projects in Peru, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Greece, Algeria, Senegal and Cuba, Subsequently he joined A.T. Kearney where he was Director responsible for developing the Canadian practice.

Sheldon Levy is President and Vice Chancellor of Ryerson University, and has been a respected postsecondary leader and analytical visionary for the past forty years. He previously served as Vice President Finance and Strategy, University of Ontario Institute of Technology; Vice President Government and Institutional Relations, University of Toronto; President, Sheridan College; and Vice President Institutional Affairs, York University.

Topic: "Farewell Chief William Blair- A Decade of Outstanding Leadership"

Location: Fairmont Royal York, Upper Canada Room

William Blair was appointed Chief of the Toronto Police Service on April 26, 2005. The City of Toronto is a vibrant city covering 636 square kilometres with a diverse population of more than 2,600,000 people. The Toronto Police Service employs over 5500 police officers and 2200 civilian employees, making it the largest municipal police service in Canada and one of the largest in North America.

Location: at the Fairmont Royal York in the Imperial Room (Main Lobby)

Topic:Innovating for Sustainability: Unlocking the Potential of Public Health Canada

Danielle Martin is Vice-President, Medical Affairs and Health System Solutions at Women's College Hospital (WCH) and a family physician in the Family Practice Health Centre at WCH. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto.

At The Rotary Club of Toronto, we believe that young people in our city are not only our future, they are our present.

Youth in the City of Toronto show civic leadership in many ways across all sectors of our society. We believe if we wish these young people to continue their leadership with compassion, creativity and tenacity, we must acknowledge and celebrate their many accomplishments.

Jasmine has been the Canada Director of Human Rights Watch since the office opened in 2004. Human Rights Watch in Canada is focused on outreach, fundraising and advocacy. Under Jasmine’s leadership , the Canada Committee has grown to 50 members in Toronto and Ottawa. Before joining Human Rights Watch, Jasmine was the Executive Director of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research and prior to that she was in-house counsel for Crown Life Insurance Company, specializing in employment law.

Rob was born and raised in Oakville. After feeling a call to the priesthood he began his seminary training in 1986 at Resurrection College Seminary at St. Jerome’s College, University of Waterloo. After graduating with a BA in Philosophy in 1989 he began his theological training at St. Peter’s Seminary at the University of Western Ontario graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1993. Rob was ordained a Deacon on April 17, 1993 and a priest on May 7, 1994 for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. While with the Diocese of Hamilton, he served in parishes in Brantford, Guelph and Hamilton.

Mr. Patrick O’Driscoll is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Corby and has been a director of Corby since July 2009. Mr. O’Driscoll’s career in the Spirits and Wine industry spans over 25 years. Prior to joining Corby he was the Chief Executive Officer of Malibu-Kahlúa International, a dba of Pernod Ricard U.S.A. LLC, from 2007 to 2009.

Fearless Leaders Richard White (Club President 2013-2014) and Pat Neuman (Chair of Fundraising) show the rest of the volunteers how it’s done!

RIBFEST 2014-by Shannon Lundquist

Another Canada Day and another scorching hot Ribfest! With over 100,000 attendees to the 15th Annual Toronto Ribfest, anticipated net proceeds to Rotary charities will total over $60,000. All told, 97 boisterous volunteer Rotarians from Toronto and Sunrise, as well as Rotaractors from UofT and Toronto, contributed more than 665 hours to greeting at the gate. Action was non-stop and there was never a dull moment.

Ribfest brings out the heat (and humidity) for both tasty treats and those in search of shelter! Our own celebrity judges: Richard (chicken), Steve (pulled pork) and Pat (ribs) can attest to the delicious quality and variety. Food Network, here they come!